Jo Briskey (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

What a motion! It's not surprising that this has come from the member for Goldstein. He's always on hand to complain about the issues that have come as a direct result of his party's failed decade in government. They're good at the rhetoric, and they're good at the manufactured outrage. The member talks about crushing confidence, but let's not forget where our economy was, where our energy grid was, and where our small businesses were when Labor came to government in 2022. Our economy was in freefall, our energy grid was neglected and small businesses were crying out for help. So those opposite shouldn't be talking about crushing confidence, because they left a trail of destruction on their way out the door.

The motion claims our energy policies are driving up bills. That's rich coming from a former government that had 22 different energy policies and delivered exactly zero of them; a former government that watched energy bills skyrocket and, instead of trying to bring them down, passed legislation to hide the reporting from the very small businesses they are now claiming to care so much about.

But the member for Goldstein need not worry, because Labor is cleaning up after their decade of delay and denial. Wholesale electricity prices fell by a third last quarter. We've delivered $56.7 million in energy efficiency grants and there's the Cheaper Home Batteries Program, which has seen installations by more than 2,800 small businesses in the first six months of the program. It must be odd for the members opposite to see a government that isn't just talking about power bills, but is actually doing something—helping small businesses buy the kit to lower them permanently—because we know and the experts know that the lowest-cost form of energy is renewable.

Now, to the 'confusion and compliance' claim regarding industrial relations—the member for Goldstein loves a good scare campaign. He isn't one who always deals in facts and—surprise, surprise—he has conveniently forgotten the carve-outs we negotiated with the sector. We didn't just barge in; we didn't force change. We listened to groups like COSBOA. That's why there is a 12-month delay for casual conversion in small business, a 12-month delay in the right to disconnect and a voluntary wage compliance code so honest employers aren't treated like criminals for administrative errors. We've invested over $20 million into the Fair Work Ombudsman's employer advisory service. We are giving small businesses the HR support that they can't afford on their own, support the previous government never bothered to provide. Just to be clear, when those opposite stand up and say they want to repeal our industrial relations reform—they use small-business owners to advance this position—what they're really doing is trying to screw over the working people, usually those on low incomes.

The motion says we've abandoned small businesses. Really? We've legislated the instant asset write-off extension. We've delivered tax cuts that benefit 1.5 million sole traders. The former shadow treasurer, now Leader of the Opposition, called these tax cuts 'a cruel hoax'. I'd invite him to come to my electorate and tell the sole trader that more money in their pocket is a hoax. But, more importantly, he should tell them that it was under his direction the coalition voted against these very tax cuts. On the topic of tax cuts, a further tax cut is coming later this year and another one next year—all thanks to this Labor government.

The opposition love to claim they are standing with small business, but, in reality, they're simply standing around complaining. How do we know this? You just have to look at their extensive plan on how they will stand with Australian small businesses—but you don't have to look too hard because you'll be wasting your time. They don't have a plan. We are the ones with a national small business strategy. We are the ones that have put the small business portfolio into cabinet. We are the ones helping small and medium businesses compete and win more government contracts through the Buy Australian Plan. We are the ones helping start-ups and small businesses through our Industry Growth Program. We don't just stand with small businesses; we invest in them, we consult with them and we respect them enough to provide actual policy instead of just complaining. This is a ridiculous motion, and I stand against it.

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